High Jinx has announced its show dates for 2025 in Blackpool. This show is highly recommended, and I always enjoy watching Michael and the High Jinx dancers and team. A mix of circus, magic, and big-stage illusions. To book, visit the Blackpool Tower site here:

While in London this weekend, we did a walking tour which included time looking around the shops and area of Covent Garden. Famed for street magicians, I knew that I would get to see a little magic entertainment at Magic Corner.  If you are in London and want to see live magic, do check out Magic Corner. I was able to chat to magicians Sergio Barros and Sam Hurst. It was brilliant to meet them both.   I was only able to get to see Sergio perform live; however, hopefully I will get the chance to see Sam perform live at BMC next month as he is involved in the “Best Family Show”.  Sergio was already performing when we arrived and he was doing cards, a balloon act, and then his cups and balls routine. He drew quite a large crowd and I have to say, his humour was amazing. Let’s be honest, some comedy magic jokes can be a little routine. Not in this case, Sergio was hilarious and balanced family entertainment with edgy jokes which went over the kids’ heads. My wife, who has seen so much magic, also enjoyed his performance. While we had, of course, seen the similar material before, his patter made it rather unique and fun. It goes without saying that I had to get a selfie and signed card (the 72nd in person signed card for my collection). We managed to capture a little footage, but I was enjoying myself too much to record for long. Sergio is a member of The Magic Circle and performs worldwide. I was so lucky to see him perform live and recommend you try to see him perform. Street performers can be thanked at the end of performance and you can leave gratuities. An additional bonus was that Sergio was sharing the corner with children’s entertainment winner Sam Hurst. I knew the name when Sam introduced himself, and I quickly realised who he was as quite a well known photo of him circulates online. I have also previously advertised his shows. He, of course, won UK Family Entertainer in 2019. Unfortunately, I was unable to get a signed card (I sisn’t have my own cards and pen with me; Sergio had given me a card) but will hopefully do so at BMC and see Sam around the event. A nice collectible item that I gained was a “Beautiful Magicians Club” Badge from Sam that I will be adding to my magic collectibles. The Beautiful Magicians Club runs on Facebook and promotes magic and cabaret shows that involve Sam and other artists, including Missy Phillips. Thank you to both Sergio and Sam for chatting and making my day. To book and learn more about these artists and their shows, please visit and follow their pages below. Sergio Barros https://www.instagram.com/royalcardician?igsh=MW50MjVyYW9wNjFndA== Sam Hurst https://www.facebook.com/share/19rvsfjnTy/?mibextid=wwXIfr https://www.instagram.com/beautifulmagiciansclub?igsh=MTFzZzF6NzRiajJkYQ==

This looks good. For magic fans, you have Mandy Muden and John Archer. Theatre Royal Windsor is proud to host the return of the MANE CHANCE COMEDY NIGHT , coming back to our stage on Sunday 30th March 2025 . Returning to the line-up this year, we’ve got Brian Conley , Joe Pasquale , Terry Alderton , Mandy Muden , Steve Hewlett , John Archer , and Hilary O’Neil ! This will be an evening that will leave you in peals of laughter! Brian Conley is a legendary comedian, television presenter, and West End star with an impressive career spanning a whopping five decades. Brian has appeared in award-winning West End musicals and television sitcoms, presented his chat show, and performed at numerous sell-out tours in the UK. In addition to 30+ years of stand-up,  Joe Pasquale has lent his famous voice to Hollywood movies, and his antics as Frank Spencer in  Some Mothers Do ‘ave ’em captivated audiences on stage. Most recently, he won ITV1’s I’m A Celebrity – Masked Singer Special . The 100mph comedian  Terry Alderton , is best known for his kinetic physical comedy. Terry’s stand-up has taken him to prestigious theatres, cruises, and numerous TV appearances. Mandy Muden is known for her striking personality and razor sharp wit. A 2018 Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist, she’s entertained audiences worldwide, from comedy clubs to Buckingham Palace. Britain’s Got Talent finalist Steve Hewlett is one of the most popular, funny, and accomplished Comedy Ventriloquists! Steve will be bringing lots of his friends with him to Windsor, including Arthur Lager for a night full of fun! John Archer charmed Britain’s Got Talent audiences in 2019 and has since showcased his unique blend of comedy and magic across 45 countries. Hilary O’Neil  has not only lit up London’s West End but has also brought her incredible impressions to numerous summer seasons, cruises and television screens. In support of Mane Chance Sanctuary Mane Chance Sanctuary are dedicated to providing sanctuary and relief from suffering for horses, while promoting humane behaviour to all animals and mutually beneficial relationships with people who need them. Their vision is built on the belief that there is no place for dominance in horse care and equally that horses have great value as teachers and healers. Find out more about Mane Chance at ManeChanceSanctuary.org To book: https://theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk/mane-chance-25

As many of you will know, the BMC app is now available to download. Available from the Android Google Play and Apple app stores. It already includes the schedule for BMC and details all the lectures and shows for the event. All the 178 dealers and maps are also included. Many shows and lectures are on a couple of times. I worked my way through the app to make choices and plan what I want to see. The app offers a handy function to set a diary entry and a reminder. As an iPhone user, this then made a calendar entry for me. Personally, I have been able to plan everything I want to see without conflicts. The agenda is packed and I will be quite busy but also have time to relax. BMC have announced over 70 magicians and even some surprises for the weekend. The BMC team have issued this list of all the magicians appearing. Impressive! Tom Wright Bill Sharpe John Carey Ricky McLeod Jay Mattioli Chris Dugdale Artem Shchukin Cody Fisher Rodd Hogg Martin ‘Marvel’ Pierce David Stone Klek Entos Max Fulham Ben Seidman Marc Paul Jamie Williams David Parr Zak Mirz Brent Braun THE ONE FINALISTS Jason Nejrup Enzo Weyne Riccardo Berdini Dave Allen Graeme Shaw Jezo Bond Martin Gardiner Noah Kelly Sam Hogarth Tom Crosbie Francesco Della Bona Dom Chambers Terry Fator Hanson Chien Rick Thomas Matthew Garrett Peter Turner Jon Armstrong Ashleigh Goodwin Gustavo Raley Jeki Yoo Chris Congreave Paul Martin Steve Axtell Jack Rhodes Adrian Carratala Steve Hewlett Eric Leclerc Bond Lee Blake Vogt Alyx Hilshey Dan Sperry Carl Charlesworth Jay Adkins Martin Hart Insane Magic Jonathan Goodwin Oliver Tabor Paul Stone Yev Moskalov George Quinn Michael Ammar Avi Yap Juan Mayoral Arturo Brachetti Cillian O’Connor Ryland Petty Harry Merlin Piper BOOK NOW: www.blackpoolmagicconvention.com

What’s On Early 2025 Thank you to The Small Space for updating us on shows and availability. The Small Space advised: Besides amazing live music every three weeks in 2025, we’ve also got comedy and a brand new comedy magic and mind-reading show too! - not forgetting less than 10 shows of the five-star-rated ‘Viva Vegas’ Magic Show left. Buy tickets Situated in Barry, Wales. The UK’s Smallest Theatre and the Smallest Magic Theatre in the World. A unique venue, it’s the home of live entertainment and delicious cocktails, not to mention Trip Advisor’s number one ‘Night Life Venue’ in Wales & Traveller’s Choice Award 2024.

Magicians Jamie Leonard and Logan Ford recently performed a couple of sold-out shows of “Tinsel & Tricks” at the Edinburgh MagicFest in December 2024. They had previously performed individually in the 2022 MagicFest ‘Future Magicians’ program. This year, they joined forces to create an exhilarating performance that skillfully blends magic, festive cheer, and numerous surprises. Jamie has a longstanding history of performing at three consecutive Edinburgh Fringe festivals and has been an artist at the annual MagicFest. Logan also has extensive experience in close-up and stage/parlour magic. They both perform at various local and private events. Step into a world of wonder with ‘Tinsel & Tricks,’ a captivating magic show presented by young, up-and-coming magicians, Logan Ford and Jamie Leonard. Magic Bros "Tinsel & Tricks" It goes without saying that you cannot beat live magic. So it needs to be appreciated that while I have reviewed a recording, the actual performance was of course live, with a sold-out audience. The show being performed and recorded at the “Scottish Storytelling Centre” in Edinburgh on the 30th of December 2024. However good a recording of a show, you cannot beat live theatre and the video highlights lots of positives as to why it is important to support artists like Jamie and Logan who perform. Two young artists who are out there and actively performing magic with bright futures ahead of them. Jamie at a young age already has a catalogue of his own shows that he has performed, and is already becoming a name in the industry. Full credit to him and Logan for getting out there and performing shows at a young age, both showing stage presence and confidence to entertain and present magic with humour. Jamie who acts as the lead performer during the show, was kind enough to also chat with the site and he explained that his passion is performing live and that he has plans to put on many more shows in 2025. Based on what I have seen, I do hope to see him perform live and can see big things ahead for this magician. You just cannot beat live magic performances. Jamie kicked off the show in a confident manner and engaged quickly with the audience, focussing on building interaction with the audience before introducing Logan. Both performers being charismatic and worked the stage together and with their own solo spots. The audience being mixed ages from 8 upwards as a family audience. Using playing cards and everyday objects, the audience was taken on a journey of magic, surprises, and wonders. It was refreshing to see a show where time has been spent crafting the set with household objects rather than using gimmicky off-the-shelf magic purchases. Jamie also mentions in the show that he started magic just with everyday objects when performing in front of his family. "We set out to create our best show, incorporating our strongest material and infusing it with a festive twist. Our goal was to deliver the ultimate Christmas magic experience, blending top-tier illusions with the warmth and joy of the holiday season. By showcasing our finest magic alongside a festive spirit, we aimed to craft a performance that truly stands out. The result was Magic Bros: Tinsel and Tricks—a celebration of wonder, excitement, and Christmas cheer." Jamie Leonard Normally I keep show reviews spoiler-free, but as this particular show is available to watch online (embedded below), I will go into a little more detail than usual. Much of the show is based on the audience making choices, whether choosing cards or helping to select numbers. "What is Magic?" is a theme that is explored during the show. The shared opening of the "Tinsel & Tricks" features both performers working together to amaze with playing cards. Both are very confident performers, and Jamie takes on the extra responsibility of main host. Logan amazed with his solo performances while using everyday objects, and Jamie with his amazing ability to work with numbers. Logan’s spot being an object balancing set piece that you actually don’t see performed live that often. A set piece that fans of Dynamo/Steven Frayne will be familiar with. The team then work through their set confidently. For such an interactive set, they both work the crowd well and are able to ad-lib and use humour to their advantage. Jamie being particularly good at narrating and instruction. The audio soundtrack that is used is also chosen well and allows timing of some of the performances to music. Jamie's set pieces included nice work with cups and water (similar to a recent Stephen Mulhern TV set performance), and he worked with the audience selecting numbers to allow a mystifying reveal of amazing maths at the end of the show. A slick performance with energy which required Jamie to narrate his calculations as the tension builds. This piece also acted as part of the show close and was my favourite section with lightning calculations. Logan then rejoined the stage at the end for a funny reveal to close the show. I thoroughly enjoyed the show, and most of the content was a little different from what others are doing. They also thankfully shied away from some of the more mainstream routines that are tired as too many perform (looking at you, Rubik Cubes!). The audience captured on camera also appeared to have enjoyed and I ended up watching the stream twice so far. Thank you to Jamie and Logan for providing a copy of the show to review. We look forward to seeing your careers develop and advertising your future work. To book these performers and check out their availability for corporate, weddings and live shows, do check out their websites and socials. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Rating out of 5 More info: Jamie Leonard Logan Ford

For one night only, Steve Price is performing his show in Coventry. Taking place on the 17th of January at The Old Hotel, Coventry. Steve regularly performs this show that we promote in our monthly show round-up as “Magic on the Mersey”. A rare opportunity to see the show outside of Liverpool that has won awards. I would love to see this as it is local to me but am already busy that day. Details to book here .

While BMC in Blackpool will keep most entertained, I have reported on a few other events taking place during that time of interest to magicians. For ease, I have listed the magic-related events below. Blackpool, of course, always has a lot on and no doubt non-magic events as well. Evolution of Magic Elizabeth Best and Craig Christian are performing shows this week from Thursday the 13th to the 22nd. The show on the 13th has been ideal for anyone getting in the day before BMC officially kicks off. https://bookings.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com/shows/date/evolution-of-magic High Jinx Michael Jordan’s High Jinx show is playing on Friday, the 21st of February, at 14:30 for half term at the Blackpool Tower Circus. https://me-twblackpool-e.tickets.theblackpooltower.com/dateTime/49412?l=en-gb&_cid=159261370.1732658764 Russ Brown’s House of Secrets A magic venue owned by magician Russ Brown that is hosting events that you can book from Wed the 12th through to the following week. Some events are ticketed before and after BMC, and the venue is open for meet-ups while BMC is running. Includes: Magic Podcast live - 12th Book Hangover Part 7 - 17th Book Show Town Museum of Fun and Entertainment . Various galleries that include shows, circus, and next-trick magic section. Near the Blackpool Tower, and you can book in advance. https://www.showtownblackpool.co.uk Showzam Love magic and mystery? From 14-22 February, Showzam! is bringing an exciting blend of live performances, incredible illusions, and show-stopping variety to Blackpool. https://www.visitblackpool.com/showzam/

Thanks to the brilliant Craig Petty’s Magic TV news on You Tube ( here ), I discovered this piece of news. Of particular interest to those visiting BMC this year or those local to Blackpool. Watch the episode below, if you wish to see Craig discussing this news or visit here . Something magical is coming for February Half-term Love magic and mystery? From 14-22 February, Showzam! is bringing an exciting blend of live performances, incredible illusions, and show-stopping variety to Blackpool.Enjoy cutting-edge street acts, mind-blowing tricks from world-class magicians, and fun-packed entertainment for all the family.More details will be announced in due course. Follow us on social media ( Facebook , X –formerly Twitter, and Instagram ) or sign up below to be the first to hear the latest updates. https://www.visitblackpool.com/showzam/

It’s often said that many people haven’t seen magic performed live, and their only experience is through TV. If you haven’t seen magic performed live in a theater, you’re missing out. Estimates suggest that as many as 60% of people have never seen magic performed live. The primary goal of this website is to encourage viewing and promote live magic. There are various magic styles, including close-up, mentalism, parlour, and stage magic. My favorite to watch is definitely stage magic and large-scale, grand illusions. I can never get enough of it and recommend anyone wishing to view try a large scale illusion show. These big box illusions are amazing to watch, but they’re often large and expensive, making it difficult to put on such shows. Often, these acts perform at holiday camps and occasionally tour UK theatres. Three of the best illusions acts that I’ve seen perform are listed below. I have seen all these acts a couple of times and I can highly recommend. If you have never seen magic performed live, make it your goal for 2025. High Jinx (with Michael Jordan) Regular performers at The Blackpool Tower Circus who also tour. Next dates are for the February half term. Book here . And for more info about High Jinx, visit their website here . A mix of crisis performances and stage illusions. Jay & Joss 2025 dates are not on their website yet. However, they normally perform at Butlins locations throughout the UK and perform 100’s of shows every year. Keep an eye out for dates. Tour dates on their official site are posted here . Matricks Illusion (Alex Jesson) 2025 dates are already on sale and tour dates can be viewed here . Two shows are currently available to book. Reimagined - the Matricks full show Masters of Deception - Matricks performing with Richard Jones Winners of the Magic Seats best stage illusion show as voted for by our readers. All performers on this page have been reviewed by Magic Seats. Check out the reviews page.

Tickets are now on sale for “High Jinx” February half term special at the Blackpool Tower Circus!! Current date available is the 21st of February at 1430. To book visit the official site here . #blackpool @theblackpooltower @visitblackpool @blackpoolgazette @staysinblackpool

🎩✨ Experience the Magic at Reigate Manor! ✨🎩 Join us on Saturday, 18th January 2025 for a spectacular evening featuring: 🍴 A delicious 3-course meal 🎶 Disco vibes with a live DJ PM-Entertainment 🃏 Mind-blowing magic by Magic In A Trice 📅 Doors open: 7 PM 💃 Party till: 11:30 PM 🌟 Tickets: Only £35 per person! ✨ Stay the night: Event + B&B for 2 sharing just £180. 🎟️ Grab your tickets now and let’s make it a night to remember! 📞 Call 01737 240125 or visit reigatemanor.co.uk/event/night-of-magic #MagicNight #ReigateManor #LiveEntertainment #DiscoVibes #DinnerAndShow